Lyric synching method and electronic device utilizing the same

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a storage unit, an audio playback unit, a display unit, and a timer. The storage unit stores audio files and lyrics associated with the audio files. The audio playback unit plays the audio files. The display unit shows the lyrics and is a touch-enabled display. The method includes directing the audio playback unit to play an audio file back, implementing the timer, directing the display unit to show the lyric content, determining the lyric content displayed corresponding to the contact position and determining a time tag before the determined lyric content according to the recorded time; and updating the time tag with the determined time tag before the determined lyric content with the determined time tag when the lyric content is not displayed synchronously with the current audio file.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to multimedia playback and, particularly,to a lyric synching method and electronic device using the method.

2. Description of Related Art

Many digital players provide readout of corresponding lyrics whenplaying back music files. However, such systems often experiencedifficulty in precise synchronization. Some specific software such asMinilyrics is able to modify time tags of lyrics, but the applicationmust be downloaded, installed, and operated correctly, which istroublesome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover,in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for synchronizing lyric readout inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detailbelow, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, an electronic device 100 includes a storage unit10, an audio playback unit 20, a display unit 30, a timer 40, and aprocessor 50. In the embodiment, the electronic device 100 is an MP4player. The storage unit 10 stores audio files and corresponding lyricsfiles stored in the same file folder. In the embodiment, each lyric andthe associated audio file have the same filename, but differentextension. Here, the format of the lyrics is LRC.

The audio playback unit 20 plays back stored audio files in response toinput.

The display unit 30 displays the lyric associated with the active audiofile. In the embodiment, the display unit 30 is a touch-enabled display.

The processor 50 directs the audio playback unit 20 to play back anaudio file in response to input, and the display unit 30 to read out thelyric associated with the active audio file. In this embodiment, whenthe processor 50 starts to play an audio file back, the processor 50implements the timer 40. The processor 50 further determines whether thedisplay unit 30 receives input during playback. If so, the processor 50determines the lyric content corresponding to the portion of the activeaudio file being played displayed on the same row as the contactposition, and determines a time tag of the determined lyric contentaccording to the recorded time of the timer 40. In this embodiment, thetime tag of the determined lyric content represents the time at whichthe lyric is displayed. The processor 50 further updates the time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content if the lyric content isnot displayed synchronously with the played audio file. For example, ifthe lyric content does not have the time tag corresponding to thedetermined lyric content, the processor 50 further adds the determinedtime tag for the determined lyric content. If the existing time tag doesnot match the determined time tag, the processor 50 replaces theexisting time tag with the determined time tag corresponding to thedetermined lyric content. The processor 50 further stores the modifiedlyric and resets the timer 40 after the audio file is played back.

The processor 50 further determines whether the lyric corresponding tothe active audio file is stored in the storage unit 10. If no associatedlyric is present, the processor 50 directs the display unit 30 to promptfor input or download of the appropriate lyric, and associates the inputor downloaded lyric with the active audio file. In the embodiment,association of the lyric with the active audio file is accomplished bystorage of the lyric and the active audio file in the same file folder,and naming of the lyric and the active audio file with the same filenameand different extensions.

In the embodiment, the processor 50 includes a playback control module510, a display control module 520, a touch detection module 530, anadjustment module 540, and a storage control module 550.

The playback control module 510 is configured to direct the playbackunit 20 to play one audio file and implement the timer 40.

The display control module 520 is configured to direct the display unit30 to readout the lyric associated with the active audio file.

The touch detection module 530 is configured to determine touch point onthe display unit 30 during playback, determine a lyric contentcorresponding to the portion of the active audio file being playeddisplayed on the same row of the touch point of the display unit (notshown), and determine a time tag corresponding to the determined lyriccontent according to the recorded time of the timer 40.

The adjustment module 540 is configured to determine whether the lyricis displayed synchronously with the active audio file. If the lyric isnot displayed synchronously with the active audio file, the adjustmentmodule 540 updates the time tag with the determined time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content. For example, if there isno time tag before the determined lyric content, the adjustment module540 adds the determined time tag for the determined lyric content. Ifthe existing time tag does not match the determined time tag, theadjustment module 540 replaces the existing time tag with the determinedtime tag corresponding to the determined lyric content.

The storage control module 550 is configured to store the modified lyricfollowing playback of the audio file. In the embodiment, the storagecontrol module 550 is further configured to reset the timer 40 followingplayback of the audio file.

The electronic device further includes a determination module 560. Thedetermination module 560 is configured to determine whether the lyriccorresponding to the active audio file is stored in the storage unit 10.If no associated lyric is present, the display control module 520 isfurther configured to direct the display unit 30 to prompt input ordownload of the lyric, and associates the downloaded or input lyric withthe active audio file.

As configured, the electronic device 100 can modify lyric contentautomatically and add time tags accurately, eliminating the need foracquisition and implementation of dedicated applications therefore.

Referring to FIG. 2, a flowchart of a method for synchronizing lyricreadout in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown.

In step S201, the playback control module 510 directs the audio playbackunit 20 to play back the audio file and implements the timer in responseto input.

In step S202, the determination module 560 determines whether the lyricassociated with the active audio file is stored in the storage unit 10.If no, the procedure goes to step S203. If yes, the procedure goes tostep S204.

In step S203, the display control module 520 directs the display unit 30to display a user interface to prompt the user to input the lyric ordownload the lyric through Internet, and associates the lyric with theactive audio file.

In step S204, the display control module 520 directs the display unit 30to display the lyric associate with the active audio file lyric contentby lyric content.

In step S205, the touch detection module 530 determines that a touchpoint on the display unit 30 during playback, further determine a lyriccontent corresponding to the portion of the active audio file beingplayed displayed on the same row of the touch point of the display unitand determines the time tag of the determined lyric content.

In step S206, the adjustment module 540 updates the time tag with thedetermined time tag corresponding to the determined lyric content whenthe lyric is not displayed synchronously with the active audio file.Specifically, the adjustment module 540 adds the time tag correspondingto the determined lyric content if there is not a time tag correspondingto the determined lyric content, and replaces the existing time tag withthe determined time tag corresponding to the determined lyric content ifthe existing time tag does not match the determined time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content.

In step S207, the storage control module 550 stores the modified lyricafter playback of the audio file. The storage control module 550 furtherresets the timer following playback of the audio file.

While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, thedisclosure is not to be constructed as being limited thereto. Variousmodifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure asdefined by the appended claims.

1. An electronic device comprising: a storage unit to store audio filesand lyrics associated with the corresponding audio files; an audioplayback unit to play the audio files stored in the storage unit; adisplay unit to display the lyric associated with the active audio file,the display unit being a touch-enabled display; a timer; and a processorto direct the audio playback unit to play the audio file and implementthe timer, control the display unit to show lyric content of the lyricassociated with the audio file lyric content being played, furtherdetermine a touch point on the display unit, and determine a lyriccontent corresponding to the portion of the active audio file beingplayed displayed on the same row of the touch point of the display unit,and determine a time tag corresponding to the determined lyric contentaccording to the recorded time of the timer, and further update the timetag with the determined time tag corresponding to the determined lyriccontent when the lyric does not match the active audio file.
 2. Theelectronic device as described in claim 1, wherein each of the lyricsand the associated audio file has the same filename, but the differentfilename extension.
 3. The electronic device as described in claim 1,wherein the processor further determines whether the lyric associatedwith the active audio file is stored in the storage unit, if the lyricassociated with the played audio file is not stored in the storage unit,the processor is to direct the display unit to display a user interfaceto prompt to input the lyric or download the lyric through Internet, andfurther associate the lyric with the active audio file.
 4. Theelectronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the processor updatesthe time tag with the determined time tag corresponding to thedetermined lyric content when the lyric is not displayed synchronouslywith the active audio file specifically comprises: the processor addsthe determined time tag corresponding to the determined lyric content ifthere is not a time tag corresponding to the determined lyric content,and replaces the existing time tag with the determined time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content if the existing time tagdoes not match the determined time tag corresponding to the determinedlyric content.
 5. The electronic device as described in claim 1, whereinthe processor further stores the modified lyric to the storage unit. 6.The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther to reset the timer when the played audio file is played back. 7.An electronic device comprising: a storage unit to store audio files andlyrics associated with the corresponding audio files; an audio playbackunit to play the audio files stored in the storage unit; a display unitto display the lyric associated with the active audio file, the displayunit being a touch-enabled display; a timer; and a processor comprising:a playback control module configured to direct the audio playback unitto play one audio file and implement the timer; a display control moduleconfigured to direct the display unit to show the lyric associated withthe active audio file lyric content by lyric content; a touch detectionmodule configured to determine a touch point on the display unit,determine the a lyric content of the lyric content corresponding to theportion of the active audio file being played displayed on the same rowof the touch point of the display unit, and determine a time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content according to the recordedtime of the timer; and an adjustment module configured to update thetime tag with the determined time tag corresponding to the determinedlyric content with the determined time tag when the lyric is notdisplayed synchronously with the active audio file.
 8. The electronicdevice as described in claim 7, wherein each of the lyrics and theassociated audio files has the same filename and different extensions.9. The electronic device as described in claim 7, wherein the processorfurther determines whether the lyric associated with the active audiofile is stored in the storage unit, if the lyric associated with theplayed audio file is not stored in the storage unit, the processor is todirect the display unit to display a user interface to prompt to inputthe lyric or download the lyric through Internet, and further associatethe lyric with the active audio file.
 10. The electronic device asdescribed in claim 7, wherein the processor updates the time tag withthe time tag corresponding to the determined lyric content when thelyric is not displayed synchronously with the active audio filespecifically comprises: the processor adds the determined time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content if there is not a time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content, and replaces the existingtime tag with the determined time tag corresponding to the determinedlyric content if the existing time tag does not match the determinedtime tag corresponding to the determined lyric content.
 11. Theelectronic device as described in claim 7, wherein the processor furtherstores the modified lyric to the storage unit.
 12. The electronic deviceas described in claim 7, wherein the processor is further to reset thetimer when the played audio file is played back.
 13. A method applied toan electronic device, the electronic device comprising a storage unitstoring audio files and lyrics associated with the audio files, an audioplayback unit being to play the audio files, a display unit to displaythe lyrics and being a touch-enabled display, and a timer, the methodcomprising: controlling the audio playback unit to play a audio file,and directing the timer to time; controlling the display unit to showlyric content of the lyric associated with the active audio file lyriccontent being played; determining a touch point on the display unit,further determining a lyric content corresponding to the portion of theactive audio file being played displayed on the same row of the touchpoint of the display unit and determining a time tag of the determinedlyric content according to the recorded time of the timer; and updatingthe time tag with the determined time tag corresponding to thedetermined lyric content with the determined time tag when the lyriccontent is not displayed synchronously with the played audio file. 14.The method as described in claim 13, wherein the method furthercomprises: determining whether the lyric associated with the activeaudio file is stored in the storage unit; controlling the display unitto show the lyric associated with the active audio file if the lyriccorresponding to the played audio file is stored in the storage unit;controlling the display unit to display a user interface to prompt toinput the lyric or download the lyric, and further associate the lyricwith the audio file if the lyric associated with the active audio fileis not stored in the storage unit.
 15. The method as described in claim13, wherein the step “updating the time tag with the determined time tagcorresponding to the determined lyric content when the lyric content isnot displayed synchronously with the active audio file” furthercomprises: adding the determined time tag corresponding to thedetermined lyric content if there is not a time tag corresponding to thedetermined lyric content; replacing the existing time tag with thedetermined time tag corresponding to the determined lyric content if theexisting time tag does not match the determined time tag.
 16. The methodas described in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: storingthe modified lyric to the storage when the played audio file is playedback.
 17. The method as described in claim 13, wherein the methodfurther comprises: resetting the timer when the played audio file isplayed back.